[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19252-19253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10238]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

49 CFR Part 393

[FHWA Docket No. MC-96-41; FHWA-97-2289]
RIN 2125-AE05


Public Meeting To Discuss the Development of the North American 
Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is announcing a public meeting concerning the 
development of the North American Cargo Securement Standard. The 
meeting will include presentations of the results of recently completed 
research and a discussion of a draft version of the North American 
Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo.

DATES: The meeting will be held on May 3, 1997. It will begin at 9:00 
a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Wyndham Greenspoint Hotel, 
12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Larry W. Minor, Office of Motor 
Carrier Research and Standards, HCS-10, (202) 366-4009; or Mr. Charles 
E. Medalen, Office of the Chief Counsel, HCC-20, (202) 366-1354, 
Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D. 
C. 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 17, 1996, the FHWA published an advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning the development of the North 
American Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo (61 
FR 54142). The ANPRM indicated that the FHWA is considering proposing 
amendments to its regulations concerning cargo securement requirements 
for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce. 
Specifically, the agency is considering adopting new cargo securement 
guidelines that will be based upon the results of a multi-year 
comprehensive research program to evaluate current regulations and 
industry practices. The FHWA requested comments on the process to be 
used in developing the cargo securement guidelines.

Standard Development Process

    The preliminary efforts at developing the North American Cargo 
Securement Standard are currently being managed by a drafting group. 
The drafting group is developing a model set of cargo securement 
guidelines based upon the results from the multi-year research program. 
Membership in the drafting group includes representatives from the 
FHWA, Transport Canada, Canadian Council of Motor Transport 
Administrators (CCMTA), the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Quebec 
Ministry of Transportation--Ontario and Quebec are conducting most of 
the research--and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).
    The meeting on May 3 is intended to serve as part of a process for 
further developing the guidelines and will involve a review of the work 
completed to date by the drafting group. The meeting is open to all 
interested parties. This process is intended to ensure that all 
interested parties have an opportunity to participate in the 
development of the guidelines, and to identify and consider the 
concerns of the Federal, State, and Provincial governments, carriers, 
shippers, industry groups, and associations as

[[Page 19253]]

well as safety advocacy groups and the general public.
    For individuals and groups unable to attend the meeting, the FHWA 
will publish the draft standard in the Federal Register. Further, the 
CCMTA has posted information on the INTERNET. The website is: http://
www.ab.org/ccmta/ccmta.html.
    With regard to future rulemaking notices, the FHWA will publish a 
separate notice concerning its review of the docket comments sent in 
response to the ANPRM. That notice will summarize the comments and 
identify any issues that warrant reconsideration of the standard 
development process.

Meeting Information

    The meeting will be held on May 3, 1997, at the Wyndham Greenspoint 
Hotel, 12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston, Texas. The meeting is 
scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is part of the Commercial 
Vehicle Safety Alliance's 1997 Spring Workshop. Attendance for the 
cargo securement meeting is free of charge and open to all interested 
parties. However, anyone interested in attending any other session or 
committee meeting of the CVSA's Spring Workshop must register with the 
CVSA and pay the appropriate registration fee. For further information 
about registration for other sessions or meetings of the CVSA's Spring 
Workshop please contact the CVSA at (301) 564-1623.
    The FHWA notes that since the CVSA's 1997 Spring Workshop is being 
held at the Wyndham Greenspoint Hotel, the availability of guest rooms 
at the hotel is very unlikely. Therefore, those needing hotel 
accommodations may need to make reservations at other hotels in the 
vicinity.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 393

    Highway safety, Motor carriers, Motor vehicle safety.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 31136, 31502; 49 CFR 1.48.
Jill L. Hochman,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Motor Carriers.
[FR Doc. 97-10238 Filed 4-18-97; 8:45 am]
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